SS Lapland

Registration Number: 137398

The Lapland was a 1908 -built ocean liner of the Belgian- American shipping company Red Star Line, which was used in the transatlantic passenger traffic from Europe to New York. She was the second largest ever for Red Star entered service in the ship and in its time the largest ship flying the Belgian flag. In later years the Lapland was used as a cruise ship until it was sold in 1934 to abort after Japan.

The ship

The Lapland was built at the shipyard Harland & Wolff in Belfast, Northern Ireland, and, contrary to most other steamships of its time, constructed of iron. The ship was 184.6 meters long, 21.5 meters wide, and had two ship chimneys, four poles and a double propeller. With a capacity of 17,540 grt, she was the largest ever built for the Red Star Line ship. The 1923 Red Star entered service in Belgenland was indeed with 27 132 GRT significantly larger, but this ship was originally built under the name Belgic for the White Star Line. As usual with Red Star Antwerp in Belgium was the home port and the ship sailed under the Belgian flag.

The decorated in white and gold dining room of Lapland was 21 meters long and extended over the entire width of the ship. The smoking room was followed by an open veranda café, where passengers could enjoy the fresh sea air. In bad weather, the cafe was closed with sliding walls. On board the Lapland electrically operated passenger elevators were installed, which was not standard on passenger ships at that time. There was also an aerobics room, a darkroom for developing photographs and a stenographer office. In addition, the passengers stood a glazed promenade deck available, so that they could walk even in wind and rain.

History

The Lapland ran on June 27, 1908 by stack and was completed on 27 March 1909. On April 10, 1909, she ran in Antwerp on her maiden voyage via Dover to New York, where she arrived on 18 April. The last train on this route began on April 7, 1914, after it ran from Liverpool to New York. In April 1912, the Lapland brought 167 surviving crew members of the sinking of the Titanic home, including all 20 surviving female crew members. She put on in Plymouth on the morning of April 29, 1912.

After Antwerp had been occupied on 10 October 1914 by the Germans, who Lapland was placed in the service of the Cunard Line and served along with the Vaderland (II ) and Zeeland ( II) the route Liverpool - New York. She took off for their first ride under the British flag on 29 October 1914. In April 1917, the ship was launched at the Mersey lightship on a sea mine, but Liverpool could safely reach. Two months later she was handed over to the Royal Navy and converted into a troopship for 3,000 people.

After the end of World War II, the Lapland the White Star Line was passed. She remained so long at White Star until the cruise line their own needed in warships received. On 24 November 1918 the Lapland was in Liverpool to their first ride in the service of the White Star Line from New York. Until 2 August 1919, she completed six crossings on this route. On September 16, 1919, she was transferred to the route Southampton - New York, where she undertook in 1919 three crossings until 27 November.

Then the ship came back into the possession of the Red Star Line, but retained the house colors of the White Star Line. She got back and not the Belgian flag, but kept the British at. Any modifications to their volume of 17,540 GRT increased to 18,565 GRT and passenger accommodations were redesigned for 389 passengers of the First, 448 Second and 1200 Third Class. On January 3, 1920 put the Lapland on the route Antwerp - Southampton - New York for their first ride for Red Star after the war from. From April 1927 the ship travelers carried in the price ranges cabin, tourist and third class.

On April 29, 1932 put the Lapland for their last ride on the route from Antwerp - Southampton - New York. Thereafter, it was used only for cruises from London in the Mediterranean Sea. In the summer of 1933 was on two trips the stewardess Violet Jessop, a survivor of the sinking of the Titanic, among the crew of Lapland. In October 1933 she was sold for demolition to Japan and scrapped in January 1934 in Osaka.